High School Teacher Resources
Compete in the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge 2027
We are excited to host an in-person event for the Illinois State Finals and award Bright Start 529 college savings scholarships to the first-place and second-place teams. National Finals offer cash prizes to nationally ranked teams. Each winning team member will receive:
- 1st Place: $2,000
- 2nd Place: $1,000
- 3rd Place: $500
- 4th Place: $250
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is proud to present the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge (IPFC)—a fun, team-based competition that helps high school students build financial knowledge and demonstrate real-world money-management skills.
Illinois high school teams compete in online exams during the fall and spring testing windows. Topics include earning income, spending and saving, managing credit, investing, and managing risk. Teachers can view their students’ scores after testing.
How It Works
1. Register your team
High school teachers register at least one team of three to four students. Teachers may sponsor unlimited teams, and multiple teachers from the same school may participate. Returning teachers may sign in using their existing login information.
Registration dates:
Fall registration: September 22–December 7
Spring registration: January 11–March 15
2. Complete the online exam
Students begin the competition by taking the first-round online exam during the designated testing window.
3. Advance to the Illinois State Finals
Top-performing teams advance to the in-person Illinois State Finals in Springfield.
4. Represent Illinois at the National Finals
The Illinois State Finals winning team represents Illinois at the National Personal Finance Challenge Finals at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.
Registration is free. Registered teams can access online practice tests and preparation resources.
Explore the Teacher Toolkit for lessons and activities covering the six personal-finance subject areas.
Illinois State Finals 2026 Winners
- 2nd Place: $1,000 scholarship – Neuqua Valley High School
- 1st Place: $1,500 scholarship – Naperville Central High School
FinWell Hub for High School Students
The Illinois Financial Wellness Hub (FinWell Hub) is an online platform with dynamic tools and courses that provides free personal finance resources to all Illinois residents. The Treasurer’s Office created resource guides to help high school teachers integrate the platform more easily into the classroom. You can download the Personal Finance Foundations and College Prep guides below. FinWell Hub users must be 13 years or older.
The Personal Finance Foundations Passport adds a fun component. Students complete courses on the FinWell Hub and receive “stamps” in their “passport.” Teachers can download certificates after students complete a course, hold students accountable, and assign courses as homework. Download a full-color or printer-friendly version of the passport from the FinWell Hub section below.
- FinWell Hub Personal Finance Foundations Passport – full color
- FinWell Hub Personal Finance Foundations Passport – printer-friendly
We hope these materials help you incorporate financial literacy learning more easily in your classroom.
Financial Literacy Resources
Financial Life Cycle Education Corp (FiCycle)
FiCycle is a nonprofit organization that provides free, research-based financial education curriculum and classroom resources. Its materials include FiCycle Math, a full-year Algebra II-level personal finance course, plus individual lessons and Calculate Your Future modules teachers can use across subject areas.
FiCycle also offers free digital resources, teacher training, and student learning experiences, including Career Chats and interactive tools that help model real-world financial scenarios.
Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Chicago
CARE Chicago is a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides financial education workshops for middle school, high school, young adult, and adult audiences. Volunteers with experience in bankruptcy, financial services, business, and related fields teach topics such as credit, budgeting, student loans, scams, and identity theft.
CARE Chicago also offers scholarships to eligible high school juniors and seniors who have participated in a CARE workshop.
Financial Literacy Standards
Standards implemented include requirements for financial literacy and inquiry skills. Inquiry skills equip students for college, career, and civic life. You can read the standards at the links below.
Gives students a chance to compete and showcase their money management skills.
Get ready for the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge 2027.
Questions? Contact Maggie Owen using this form.